Billionaire entrepreneur Ratan Tata has allocated a substantial portion of his remarkable £91 million (Ksh 15.2 billion) fortune to his cherished dog.
The prominent figure behind Jaguar, Land Rover, and Tetley passed away earlier this month at the age of 86, with his German shepherd, Tito, designated to receive “unlimited care” as stipulated in his will.
Having never married and without children, Tata’s wealth was distributed among those he selected.
Prior to his unfortunate passing, he determined that his loyal companion Tito, his long-time butler and assistant Konar Subbiah, and his cook Rajan Shaw would be the beneficiaries of his estate.
The specific amounts allocated to each recipient from the £91 million remain undisclosed.
Additionally, his brother Jimmy Tata and two half-sisters, Shireen and Deanna Jejeebhoy, are expected to inherit portions of his extensive estate.
According to reports from the Times, Tata made explicit arrangements in his will for Tito, ensuring that the dog would receive “unlimited care” for the duration of his life.
Tito remained by the side of the Indian businessman until his last moments.
Suhel Seth, a close associate of Tata, characterized the distributions to all three beneficiaries as generous.
“He has made very, very generous provisions for them. They will never have to work again and they will be very well looked after,” he said
Tata joined the Tata Group in 1962, starting his career on the shop floor of Tata Steel.
Over the years, he progressed through various roles within the organization, eventually taking on leadership positions at Tata Industries.
Under Ratan Tata’s visionary leadership, the Tata Group made significant strides in various sectors.
One of his most notable achievements was the acquisition of Jaguar Land Rover in 2008, which established Tata as a formidable player in the global automotive market.
Additionally, he oversaw the purchase of Corus Steel in 2007, enhancing Tata Steel’s capabilities and market presence.
Under his guidance, the Tata Group diversified into various sectors including information technology with Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), telecommunications through Tata Communications, and hospitality with Taj Hotels.
After retiring as chairman in 2012, Tata continued to play an influential role in business and philanthropy.
He became an active angel investor in several startups such as Ola and Xiaomi and served on various boards and advisory committees, sharing his extensive expertise with emerging businesses.
